Gunnevera looks to bolster case during Florida Derby

With five weeks remaining before the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, two of the top Derby prep races this weekend could determine the favorites for the Run for the Roses.

At Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., the $1 million Florida Derby will feature multiple stakes winner Gunnevera, who sits at No. 2 in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s weekly 3-year-old poll.

On Saturday, Gunnevera breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 over the fast dirt at the West track. The time ranked seventh of 20 horses and was notably quicker than Gunnevera’s breeze March 18 that went in 1:04.60.

“It was very good for me. The jockey did exactly as I asked him, and it went perfect,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “He was very calm on my horse. The last 2 furlongs I got him in 104⁄ (seconds), and the gallop 5 out was very good.

Gunnevera, the chestnut son of 2011 Florida Derby winner Dialed In, leads the Kentucky Derby standings with 64 points. He won the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot by 53⁄ lengths to 4 close out his juvenile season in November and finished second in his first 3-year-old race, the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes.

Then March 4, his last time out, Gunnevera romped by 53⁄ 4 lengths in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream.

“It’s exciting, and it’s pressure,” Sano said. “More people come by the barn for the horse. The owners call me every day. I think it’s normal. I feel that my horse is a good horse.”

Multiple stakes winner Three Rules and recent allowance winner Impressive Edge also worked Saturday for the Florida Derby.

Three Rules was sharp in his only work for the Derby, going 5 furlongs in 1:00.50, the fastest of 24 horses over a main track that had received some overnight rain.

First run in 1952, the Florida Derby has produced 43 starters that have gone on to win 58 Triple Crown events.

That includes last year’s winner, Nyquist, who captured the Kentucky Derby during his next start.

Girvin tops Louisiana field: In what has been a chaotic Triple Crown prep season, Girvin will hope to supply stability in Saturday’s Grade 2, 11⁄ 8- mile, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. The lightly raced colt, by Tale of Ekati and trained by Joe Sharp, upset the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes field Feb. 25 at odds of 8-1 but will be favored in the Louisiana Derby.

The only other graded winner from the eight remaining 3-yearolds in the Louisiana Derby field is Guest Suite, who won the Jan. 21 Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds but never seriously threatened in a fourthplace Risen Star run.

Also returning from the Risen Star is Local Hero, who led by 6 lengths at one point, then held on to finish third.